Wood Glue Tips
That Help You Save Time!
In preparing a wood glue joint, a tight fit is important. A thin, even layer of glue forms a strong bond. A thick layer of glue weakens the joint.
It is wise to use a small brush to spread the glue evenly around the joint parts. You may want to cut the bristles shorter. Scissors work great!
To achieve a successful edge joint, it is wise to use tongue & groove. This registers the joint and gives a larger gluing surface. The surfaces should be tight along the entire length, i.e. straight.
Do not rely on clamps to straighten bowed boards. Too much stress on the joint may cause it to fail.
See
How to Edge Join on a Router Table for more detail.
The mating surfaces must be dry and free of grime before you spread wood glue. Oil, waxes and silicone
resists glue. Dust and water may prevent solid contact between wood surfaces.
After assembling the joint, use a clamp to hold it tight. You want the joint to remain in a fixed position. If you spread the proper amount of glue, you should see glue squeeze out of both sides of the joint.
Do NOT remove the glue with a damp cloth or sponge. This ruins your finish and does not allow stain
penetration.
Let the glue set for a couple of hours before removing the squeeze out. You use a sharp chisel as a scraper or an actual scraper to remove excess glue.
All glues have an open time. For most yellow glues, this is about 10 minutes. The open time means how
long you have to assemble the joint and clamp it. Of course, the open time varies with temperature and
humidity. I have found that the Klingspor's Klingbond has amble time to assemble the Headboard and
spindles on a Baby Crib. You can always make smaller subassemblies first, and then assembly the whole
project later.
A mortise-and-tenon joint should fit precisely - neither too tight nor too loose. If your force parts together, there is no room for glue. If you have too much play in the joint, the glue is too thick. It may fail under stress. In a perfect joint, the glue layer is less than the thickness of a dollar bill.
The Mortise Jig and the Tenon Jig make precise joints. You should use these jigs.
Wood Glue Tip:
Save a plastic mustard bottle with a twist top. The twist top keeps the bottle airtight. Twist open to
use; twist closed to store. The glue does not stick to the plastic. I buy Klingspor's Klingbond by the
gallon. When needed, I pour some yellow glue into the mustard bottle.
You should try Klingspor's Klingbond (yellow wood glue). It is better than some.
Another good option is the New Gorilla Wood Glue. It bonds stronger and faster for wood-to-wood applications.
You can find a good buy on the Woodworking Supplies Auction page.
